A gallant display from Mike Solans team wasn’t enough as Carlow had three points to spare after extra-time in the division four final.
Lee Walker, Padraig Bulger and Ross Dunphy opened the scoring for Carlow as Oran Kenny replied for Longford after two minutes.
Liam Gavin and Dylan Farrell traded scores. Longford’s Oisin O’Toole got the opening goal of the contest 18 minutes, drawing the side’s level, 1-02 to 0-5.
However, Carlow responded with three points in succession from Ross Dunphy, Jamie Clarke (2P) and Liam Gavin.
Whereas, Dessie Reynolds got a much needed score for Longford. However, Carlow struck back with points from Liam Gavin, Mikey Bambrick and Ross Dunphy as they kept their lead intact.
Longford finished the stronger of the sides in the first-half with scores from Joseph Hagan, Dylan Farrell and Dessie Reynolds drawing Longford level on the stroke of half-time.
At half-time the sides were tied, Longford 1-9 to Carlow 0-12.
Oran Kenny and Matthew Kenny opened the Longford scoring early in the second-half. These were matched by efforts from Liam Gavin and Ross Dunphy.
Indeed, Carlow struck for their only goal of the contest on 44 minutes. Ross Dunphy raised the green flag, giving Carlow a three point lead, 1-14 to 1-11.
Longford had their second goal of the contest on 50 minutes. Oran Kenny buried the ball to the back of the Carlow net following the breakdown of a short kick-out, leaving only two between the sides.
Longford fight back to force extra-time
Efforts from Daniel Reynolds and Matthew Carey approaching 70 minutes left the sides level as the hooter sounded; sending it to extra-time.
At the end of regulation time it finished Longford 2-14 to Carlow’s 1-17.
Indeed, Conor Doyle and Jamie Clarke gave Carlow the lead early in the first period of extra-time.
However, Longford rallied again as Daniel Reynolds and Dylan Farrell two efforts sent the sides to the extra-time break tied, 2-18 to 1-21.
The second-half started in dramatic fashion when Longford substitute Ronan Blakley was shown a red card for a dangerous play. Leaving Mike Solans team to see out the game with 14 players.
Christopher Blake and Padraig Bolger both registered points in the second period of extra-time to seal the division four title for Carlow with a three point victory, 1-24 to 2-18.
